Vehicle-tire.



'No. 888,823. PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

- H. A. KNOX.

VEHICLE TIRE.

LPPLICIATION FILED DEO.13, 1905.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

:PATENTED MAY 26 H. A. KNOX.

VEHICLE TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.13, 1905 3 SPIBETS-SHEET 2 BATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

H.A. KNOX. VEHICLE TIRE. APPLIOATIOK FILED D110. 13, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

'0 all whom it may concern:

NEED srA'rEs PgEN'r OFFICE.

HARRY AUSTIN KNOX, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

VEHICLE-TIRE.

i No. 888,823.

. Vehicle-Tires, of which the following is a modification on theline 44 of Fig; 5 of the construction' shown'in Fig. 1 witha modified spring to the rim ofthe wheel.

other modification wherein a v cylin; rical' s carried each spring,

specification. I c This invention relates broadly to the class of vehicletiresand is adapted more particularly as an automobile tire and-has for its ob jcct to provide a construction'that can-be manufactured at a comparatively low cost and is easy to assemble and can be quickl repaired in case of break-downs on the roa Another object of the invention is to produce aconstruction that is more 1 durable than any construction of tires now-in use.

The invention broadly consists in placing a O-v channel-iro'n' on the felly of the wheel and eating. in the bottom of the channel there of one or more layers of semi-elastic mateliahsuch as belting, felt, or any analogousmaterial, and in placin the channel a series of coiled springs 0 any suitable form, the coils of the springs extending transversely or diagonally of the channel-iron, and in securing the spring by a bolt or other suitable means to the flanges of the channel-iron. I

:In he drawings forming part of this ap plication,-Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section online 1-'1 of Fig. 2 of a wheel showing in section a portion of the telly, channeliron, andspring, and the belting-or fabric underneath the spring. Fig. 2 is alongitudi nal sectional view on line 2'2 of Fig. 1'.

Fig. 3is a sectional view showing the differ ent forms of wire that may be used in maklng' the transverse springs, as square, D-shaped,

circular, or any other shape. Fig. 4 1s a form of s ring which is substantiallytriangular in s a e and also showing' a substitute means for t e channel-iron for tlie verticalsection on the line ifi curing means. Fig. 6 shows t elliptical spring secured tothe-rim in any suitable way, while Fig. 7 shows a s ring i that is rectangular in cross section, an Flg. 7 a shows a'spring having a bro'z'ir'ler bearing and tread surface. Fig. 8 is avertical section on theline 8-8 of Fig.9 showin an' Specification 0:2 Letters Patent.

Application filed December 13, 1905 Serial No. 291,623.

- when the bolt is inserted througljithe flanges f the boltwill bein close enga ementwith the H5 is" a ia' showing the modified form of splr gang *se-*' Patented May 26,1908.

piece of tubing of any suitable metal, as steel or copper, and made either in one or more pieces, is employed for the tread of the wheel in place of the spring tread mentioned above. Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.- Fig. 10 is a further 'modificati'onof the cylindrical piece showin another means of securing the cylinder in t e channel-iron, "while Fi 11 shows a longitudinal vertical section 0 an elliptical shaped cylinder for the tread of the wheels and having the, same securing means as shown in Fig. 10. Figs; 12,

1 3'and 14 show modified constructions for q securing the coiled spring in the channel- 1ron.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a desi'gnates the felly of the wheel; I). the spokes; c a section of the channel-iron which is shrunk onto the rim of the wheel and may be further 7 secured by bolts or screws ,d the two layers of some semi-elastic material, as belting or any analogous material, as felt, cloth, etc. which is placedin the bottom of the-channel iron e designates as a whole one of the coiled springs that extends transverselyof the channel iron and is of a diameter such that the springs extendabove the'side'flanges f, of Y echannel-iron.

It will be noticed that the normal longitudinal length cf the spring 6 before the same is put under compression and placed in the channel-iron is greater than the internal width of the channel-iron from one flan e to the other and is indicated by the dotted ines g in Fig. 1. It will be noticed that the indi vidualcoils of the s ring 5 when placed under'c'ompres'sion an ut into the channeliron do not quite touc e'ach'other, as indi' cated at h;

- t designates a bolt that extends through openings j in the flanges of the channel-iron and is adapted for securely holding the spring e in place. The'holes j are-so located' that =cohstrudtioii the-s ring, when the whee is in vmotion,ca'lii slight y rotate or have a slightly 1 elajstic'imove'ment on the bolt'i as a center 1n 105 'a 'loh 'itudi r'ial direction of'thechannel-iron Be erring to Fig. 2, it will be not ced'that use rings e do not quite touch each-other,

a's in icatedby the reference'letter k- .The

object of 'providin this space betweeni the 'spr' s is that as t 'e wheelrotates andithe' the spring is permitted to slightly distend or compress in a longitudinal direction of the channel-ironand partially close the space 7r between the s rings, thus providing an elastic tread for t 1e wheel, or if the springs e do touch each other the elastic effect will be transmitted from one spring to the other.

The reference letter m designates a series of holes that are drilledthrough the flanges of the channel-iron in order to permit the dirt and any loose material or water to escape that may work in between the springs 23 through the space is.

may use.

Referrin to the construction shown in Fig. 4, the Tetter n designates the felly of the wheel; '0 designates two plates that are bolted onto the sides of the felly by means of the bolt 1). These plates 0 extend above the rim of the wheel for a short distance, as shown, and through the extended portion of the plates is passed a bolt q for securing the spring r in place as described above. In this construction is shown a tire s on the rim of the wheel, although it is not necessary to use the tire; the springs 1' could be placed, if preferred, directly in contact with the peri hery of the wooden rim or in contact witi the steel channel-iron. The form of spring used in this construction may be the same as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but that shown in Fig.

5 is one of the forms I may use, although Ido not limit myself as to the form of spring I One of the advantages of this form of spring is that the tread of the wheel conforms more nearly to a complete circle thus lessening in a measure the jarring effect of the wheel as it passes from one spring to the next. 0 en.

The dotted line it in Fig. 5 of the spr'in 1 shows the position of the spring when un er compression, and as it is bent by the weight upon it.

Fi 6 shows another form of spring designate as a which is substantially elliptical in cross section, and one of the advantages in using this form of spring is that it is better adapted for a light vehicle since it is more easi y compressed than the forms described above.

Fig. 7 shows a spring -v that is rectangular in shape and in the figures shown is'in the form of a square in cross section. This form of spring-is not as elastic as the other form described and when they are put in place the openings between one spring and the next being V-shaped allows the corner of the spring to strike the road-bedand in this manner the elasticity of the spring is obtained.

Fig. 7 a shows a springer that has a broader tread and bearing surface than the other forms and is practically a circle with the topand bottom portions cut off.

Referring to Fig. 8, a modification of a channel-iron which is'formed by two pieces The form shown in Fig. 2 is more.

ssaszs of angle-iron designated by the reference)? ter w, is shown. These angle irons' 5', shrunk onto the rim of the wheel in the midi-- nary manner with a slight space x between them. 2 designates pieces of belting, felt, or any other materialthat is placed in the channel formed by the two angle-irons, and is carried up onthe inner sides of the flanges of the angle-irons w for the urpose of lessening the rattle that may resu t by reason of the circular" tubes 2 which are used in this form when rubbing against the vertical flanges 3 of the angle-irons w, w. In this construction, in place of the elastic springs referred to above one or more metallic cylinders or tubes 2 are employed. It is of course understood that these cylinders 2 may be used with the tegral with the body of the cylinder. Tlhese semi-circular shaped pieces have their concaved sides towards each other and through the openings formed by these two pieces 5 is passed the ordinary securing bolt 6.

Fig. 11 shows the same securing means described in reference to Fig. 10 but instead of the cylindrical tube being used, an elliptical bifurcated tube is used.

Fig. 12 shows a modification for securing the coiled springs shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 in place.

through a short stud 9 the inner end of which engages the lower inner surface of the spring.

Fig. 13 shows another means of securing the spring in position which consists of a rolled or cast lug 10 on the inner surface of the channel-iron and is so positioned that the sameengages the inner curved surface of the spring: whileFig. 14 shows another form of securing the spring in place b means of indenting the vertical flange o the channeliron, as shown at 11, in vertical section and at .12 in side elevation.

. Of course, it is understood that the springs 6 may be made of any suitable elastic metal, as tempered copper, brass, etc., but tempered steel is generally employed in my improved tires. The belting I use in the bottom of thechannel is placed loosely therein,

and one piece is secured to the other by the ordinary belt fastener. This belting or This modification consists .in making a threaded opening 8 through the flange of, the channel-iron and passing-thereanalo ous material necessarily deadens the I metal ic noise between the springs and rim and adds to the elastic tread of the wheel. The springs are notpecessarily made in one piece, but may be'madein-twoor more seeasaaae tions and held in place by the bolt through the flanges Without connecting theni. together in any particular way. Y

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letter Patent of the United States, is

1. In a vehicle-Wheel, the combination with the rim thereof, a-channel-iron secured thereto, a series of springs extending trans- Versely of said channel-iron, said springs being so placed as to form a space between one spring and the next, and a series of holes t rough the flanges of said channel-ironand located between said springs, and means for securing said springs to the channel-iron.

2. In a vehicle-wheel, the combination with the rim thereof, a channel-iron secured thereto, springs located transversely thereof and normally under compression but not great enough to bring the 'coils in contact with each other, and means for securing said springs to the flanges of the channel-iron, said securing means consisting of a series of projections adjacent the bottom of the chain nel-iron and engaging the lower, inner surface of the springs as described.

I HARRY AUSTIN KNOX. Witnesses:

WM. H. CHAPIN,

HARRY W. BOWEN. 

